Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-03-25

manufactures or to seek home. On the
contrary, many men of large means have been
induced to remove from the town, to get rid
of that enormous taxation.
Our bricklayers and carpenters can bear
testimony to the fact that their business has
shrunk almost to nothing. If they will seek
for the cause, they will readily find it in the
heavy taxation of the present, and the lnse-
curity which is felt as to the future. What
intelligent man will build houses or invest
money in property in Staunton, when it Is
liable to be substantially confscated by wild
and extravagant taxation? What honest man
can advise a man of property to move to
Staunton, in the condition of uncertainty
which exists as to the security of his property
when he comes here? The writer would have
no hesitation in advising any friend to keep
away from Staunton, (if the present extrava-
CANT system is to prevaiD. as he would from
plague stricken town?
If the projected schemes of expenditures
are carried out, the result will be the destruc-
ton of the value of real estate Men who pay
little or none of the property tax are captiva-
ted with the idea of aping the splendor of a
wealthy city, at other peoples expense!
Is it not time that the conservative people
the tax paying portion of the community
should give expression to their sentiments? If
! they stand idly by, they will soon find them
the schemes contemplated are carried into
effect, bankruptcy or confscation must soon
follow!
Must the earth quake before the people can
be awakened to sense of the danger which
awaits them?
Let the sensible people assemble in public
meeting and give our Councilmen to under
stand that they do not intend passiyely to sub
nit to their ruinous misrule.
The Legislature is soon to assemble, and if
necessary, let them appeal to that body for
relief.
The writer makes no imputation against the
motives of the majority of the Council, but
he does impeach the wisdom of their action.
He believes it will be ruinous to the best in
terests of the t0aon-he will not say CITY, be-
cause he believes it was the assumption of
that title which turned the heads of our Coun-
cilmenI
Unjust taxation led to the American Revo-
luton. 1t is to be hoped that unjust taxation
(unless the spirit of our fathers has left us,
will lead to reform, or revolution, in the
Municipal Government of Staunton!
A TAXPAYER.
Editor Viadicator:
The above communication, which appeared
in this weeks Spectator" must have been
intended as q hoac upon our good "tello,.
citizens" for would not do the writer the
injustice to believe he would have our people
think in all seriousness, they had elected sci
of communists to the City Council, who were
going to bring the utter ruin and desolatior
on the town. he 80 graphically depicts o.
else, his gloomy forebodings are the result Of
a severe attack of nervous dyspepsia.
He says he 'makes no imputation agains,
the motives of majority of the Council
but he does impeach the soisdom Of their &C.
t0n." Now to ascertain how worthily or un
worthily the present Council is serving the
best interests of the city as wao1e-for they
are not trying to please that negative class O.
people called crdnks-let US compare what it
has done, and what, understand, it proposes
to do; with the acts and doings of former
councils for the past ten or eleven years.
say, former councils, for it seems that the
"wisdom of their action" has been generally
approved Let us see how judiciously the
bonds they have issued and the taxes they
have collected during that time, have been
expended; and then let us compare the vazu,
osed expenditures of the present council.
Now, Mr.. Editor, what has been done by
former councils during the past eleven years
1t is true that valuable real estate and water
right on Main street was purchased from one Of
their number, and $4,000. 90 in eight per cent
bonds were issued therefor; and it is likewise
true that this valuable property was sold fol
So, 10000 Cfor want of better offer) and sia
per cent. bonds were taken therefor
Spring Farm was bought at a cost of $14,
600, primarily for the water rights that were
upon it; but after the city had issued it's bonds
in payment therefor, it was discovered that the
city did not eon, the principal thing desired
to be procured by such purchase, viz. the
Gum Spring.; and to get control of sufficient
water to feed the pump, the council had te
take second dive at the aforesaid spring and
issue 81, 10000 additional bonds, for the priv
lege of ownership of that which ''they
thought they already owned.
The City Hall was purchased for which
bonds are now outstanding, and after an ex
penditure of $4,000 90 thereon-$s, 900 Of
which remains unpaidzto improve the Opera
Hall, the income from rent of the latter, hal
been doubled.
A Free School building was purchased il
1878 and bonds were issued therefor. which
are still in existence; and although this and
the other buildings used for public schools, are
and have been unfit for such purposes, still
they have been allowed to remain So after re
peated entreaties from the School Trustees. tt
improve them.
Now let us see how judiciously the cas1
collected from year to year, for the past clever
years has been handled; and let me say RICH,
here that the gentlemen who have composed
our city councils during that time, have beer
considered generally speaking, men full o
practical wisdom and business capacity.
During this eleven years over Five Hundred
and Fifty Thousand Dollars has been collec
ted in taxes, portion of which has been ex
pended as follows:
The account of Street improvements ha,
been charged with expenditures amounting te
$43, 0Ol,O the whole of which, we might say
has been ground into powder and been washed
away by the rains or blown away with tn,
winds, and as consequence, our streets are
in no better condition to-day than they were
eleven years ago. The above mentioned OK
penditures do not include the cost of perma
nent structures, such as the stone bridges on
Main and Augusta streets
The Public school account has been charged
with $66, 709,9 5 and although the buildings
used for such purposes have been condemned
by the Board of Health for want of sufficient
light and proper ventilation, and as being
thoroughly unsanitary and overcrowded, and
although the School Trustees have repeatedly
urged the Council to make more suitable pro.
vision for the school children, still in that re.